B-to-b ad revenue surges 5.5%

New York--B-to-b magazine advertising revenue soared 5.5% to $2 billion in the first quarter, compared with the same period last year, according to TNS Media Intelligence/CMR.

Overall, U.S. advertising revenue grew 4.9% to $28.4 billion in the first quarter.

"The first-quarter results are a continuation of the growth we've seen in the industry since the second half of 2002," said Steven Fredericks, president-CEO of TNS Media Intelligence/CMR. "Despite cautious market expectations of the impact of the Iraq War, we are off to a very good start for 2003."

Fourteen of the 16 measured media increased in the first quarter, according to TNS Media Intelligence/CMR.